New
York-based fashion show producer and designer
Andres Aquino continues to build his
international brand worldwide. His recent fashion
show at Dubai Fashion Week was a well-received
dramatic experience for a market is that heavily
inclined to more conservative and traditional
fashion collections and presentation styles.

Held on April 3, 2010 in the
Godolphin Ballroom of the luxurious Jumeirah
Emirates Towers, Mr. Aquino's fashion show at Dubai
Fashion Week featured his trademark theatrical
elements enhancing the stunning ensembles shown on
the runway. The show opened with a performance by
Italian singer/dancer Cecilia Herrera Frioni
wearing a tropical dress by Andres Aquino, and
continued with vignettes and tableaux of models
showcasing a range of gowns in different colors and
styles. Artistic hair styles were beautifully
executed by the Juice team and the creative makeup
was done by the L'Oreal team. The overall style of
the fashion designs was sophisticated, elegant and
bright. Many gowns were enhanced by custom made
oversized necklaces by Toronto-based jewelry
designer Lek Nasuwan of Siam Gallery.

My theater
background played a lot into my designs",
notes Mr. Aquino. "I think women are
dramatic in the way they walk, speak, and
express themselves. I create clothes for
many different types of women because every
woman is different. No two women are the
same, so the clothing should reflect their
personality, like a character on stage."

Andres Aquino's worldwide
fashion journey has seen him showing his
collections in New York, Palm Beach, the
Dominican Republic, Romania, Mexico, India,
Dubai and soon in St. Croix in the US Virgin
Islands. In each destination he leaves an
impression of fashion as fun and
entertaining by incorporating theatrical
elements, dance, songs and drama into his
runway shows. I am flattered to see that
other designers are starting to copy some of
my stage presentation formula," says Mr.
Aquino. "It certainly makes fashion shows
more exciting." Andres Aquino is also the
founder and producer of Couture Fashion
Week.

"Aquino did his bit to
inject a bit of drama and theatrics onto the
catwalk. Kicking off with a live
rendition of a love song, the models
strutted down in a string of vintage gowns
made in satin and lace and pleated
dresses Models who doubled up as celebrities
trying to ward off paparazzi and women who
shrugged off their suitors added much-needed
drama. The accessories the chunky pearls
and metallic chokers (by Lek Nasuwan) added
a zany touch. -- Gulf News by Manjusha
Radhakrishnan, staff reporter; April 5,
2010.

Performer Cecilia

Jewelry by Lek
Nasuwan

Andres
Aquino, based in New York, is a tireless
fashion industry producer and designer.
He has been featured in numerous
magazines, newspapers and TV channels
worldwide including Fashion TV,
Collezioni, Book Moda and Moda
Style International. His artistic
endeavors have taken him from theater
directing and writing to fashion design,
whilst his designs have graced
Couture Fashion Week runways for
several years. The object of his
Autumn/Winter 2010 collection is to
bring out the inner divinity in every
woman. -- SheClick.com; April 08,
2010

Beautiful colors and
exquisite pleating, added detail and
drama to this New York-based
designer's collection. I fell head over
heels for this gown, which I call the
Layer Cake Dress. -- DubaisItGirl.com

Upcoming shows by Mr. Aquino
include a gala couture fashion show in St. Croix, US
Virgin Islands in May 2010 as part of a literacy
fundraiser, and a new collection to be featured at
Couture Fashion Week at 8:00 p.m. on September
11, 2010 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. The
events are expected to draw a good number of
celebrities, VIPs and international press. The
Couture Fashion Week New York event will partner
this season with the Greater NYC Affiliate of the
Susan G. Komen For the
Cure in its ongoing efforts to support
breast cancer awareness and research.